I’ve always been a maker – there’s something very satisfying about creating something new. And I’m glad I have been because now I find fun treasures lurking in the back of my pantry. Which happened tonight. I was looking for a little after dinner snack or sip and came across some cumquat brandy I made about 15 years ago. A friend had a tree so I filled my jar with fruit, some sugar and a bottle of brandy and left it to become something new.

It is now well-aged and full of deep, citrus peel flavours. The fruit is quite wrinkled and makes me chuckle the way so many of them look like tiny little bottoms squeezed up against the glass. Delicious, fruity, boozy bottoms that are perfect to nibble on when one can’t decide between a snack or a sip.